Location: Livingston, AL•In-State Tuition: $10,990•Out-of-State Tuition: $20,090•Admission Rate: 87%•Avg SAT: 1015
Median Earnings (1yr)
$30,019
36th percentile
40th percentile in Alabama
Median Debt
$27,750
11% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.92 ManageableSample: 16 graduates Limited data

Analysis

With $27,750 in debt against $30,019 in first-year earnings, University of West Alabama's biology program leaves graduates carrying nearly a full year's salary in loans—though this debt load is actually lower than what most biology students face nationally. The bigger concern is the earning power: while graduates here start just below Alabama's median for biology majors, they're significantly trailing the state's top programs. Athens State and UAH biology graduates earn over $6,000 more annually, a gap that compounds substantially over time.

The program does serve an important access mission—over half of students receive Pell grants—but families need to weigh that against the economic reality. Biology graduates from this program fall in the 40th percentile statewide, meaning six out of ten Alabama biology programs produce better-earning graduates. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.92 is manageable compared to many degrees, but it's tight enough that students pursuing graduate school (common for biology majors) or those not immediately landing solid jobs could face strain.

Important caveat: these numbers come from a small sample, so individual outcomes may vary considerably. For students committed to pre-med or graduate school, the lower debt here compared to pricier options might actually be strategic. But for those planning to work directly after graduation with a bachelor's degree, the top-third of Alabama biology programs offer noticeably better starting positions.

Where University of West Alabama Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all biology bachelors's programs nationally

University of West AlabamaOther biology programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How University of West Alabama graduates compare to all programs nationally

University of West Alabama earns $30k — 36th percentile among biology bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Alabama

Biology bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Alabama (26 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
University of West AlabamaLivingston$10,990$30,019—$27,7500.92
Athens State UniversityAthens—$36,907—$21,1870.57
University of Alabama in HuntsvilleHuntsville$11,770$36,775$43,133$25,0000.68
Jacksonville State UniversityJacksonville$12,426$33,236$40,744$22,0000.66
Auburn University at MontgomeryMontgomery$9,436$31,385$41,273$31,0000.99
University of North AlabamaFlorence$11,990$30,593$36,124$21,2500.69
National Median—$32,316—$25,0000.77

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with biology graduates

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Research Coordinators

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Water Resource Specialists

Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists

Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. Engage in clinical investigation, research and development, or other related activities.

$100,590/yrJobs growth:Doctoral or professional degree

Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in biological sciences. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Forensic Science Technicians

Collect, identify, classify, and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations. Perform tests on weapons or substances, such as fiber, hair, and tissue to determine significance to investigation. May testify as expert witnesses on evidence or crime laboratory techniques. May serve as specialists in area of expertise, such as ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, or biochemistry.

$67,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

$64,580/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biological Technicians

Assist biological and medical scientists. Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, monitor experiments, collect data and samples, make observations, and calculate and record results. May analyze organic substances, such as blood, food, and drugs.

$52,000/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Agricultural Technicians

Work with agricultural scientists in plant, fiber, and animal research, or assist with animal breeding and nutrition. Set up or maintain laboratory equipment and collect samples from crops or animals. Prepare specimens or record data to assist scientists in biology or related life science experiments. Conduct tests and experiments to improve yield and quality of crops or to increase the resistance of plants and animals to disease or insects.

$48,480/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Precision Agriculture Technicians

Apply geospatial technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS), to agricultural production or management activities, such as pest scouting, site-specific pesticide application, yield mapping, or variable-rate irrigation. May use computers to develop or analyze maps or remote sensing images to compare physical topography with data on soils, fertilizer, pests, or weather.

$48,480/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Food Science Technicians

Work with food scientists or technologists to perform standardized qualitative and quantitative tests to determine physical or chemical properties of food or beverage products. Includes technicians who assist in research and development of production technology, quality control, packaging, processing, and use of foods.

$48,480/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Biological Scientists, All Other

All biological scientists not listed separately.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At University of West Alabama, approximately 54% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 16 graduates with reported earnings and 21 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.